Grammar makes your French correct; register makes it appropriate. Register is the level of formality you choose for the situation: you do not talk to a store manager the way you text your best friend, in English or in French. English shows politeness mainly through extra words (could you, please, would you mind). French does that too, but it also has a choice built into every sentence: two words for you. Choosing tu or vous tells the other person how close you are to them and how much respect you are showing. Getting it wrong is not a grammar error, but it can sound rude or oddly stiff. This lesson gives you the rules for tu and vous, the polite way to ask for things, and the set expressions francophones use every day to greet, thank, apologise and congratulate.
- a friend or classmate
- a family member
- a child or someone your age
- an animal
- on social media with people your age
- an adult you do not know well
- a store employee, server or customer
- a school principal or office staff
- a job interviewer or employer
- ANY group of two or more people, even friends
Asking politely: from je veux to pourriez-vous
| Expression | English | Register and use |
|---|---|---|
| Je veux un café. | I want a coffee. | Blunt; fine with family, but sounds demanding in a store |
| Tu peux m'aider ? | Can you help me? | Casual, with a friend |
| Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît. | I would like a coffee, please. | Polite: the standard way to order or ask |
| J'aimerais essayer cette veste. | I would like to try on this jacket. | Polite, a little softer |
| Est-ce que je pourrais parler à la gérante ? | Could I speak to the manager? | Polite request for permission |
| Pourriez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? | Could you repeat, please? | Very polite, with vous |
| Pourrais-tu fermer la porte ? | Could you close the door? | Polite but friendly, with tu |
Greetings and goodbyes
| Expression | English | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Bonjour | Hello, good morning | All day, any register; always greet before asking for something in a store |
| Bonsoir | Good evening | Greeting someone in the evening |
| Salut | Hi / Bye | Informal, with friends |
| Allô | Hello (on the phone) | Answering the phone; in Québec also a casual hi |
| Au revoir | Goodbye | Any register |
| À tout à l'heure | See you later (today) | You will see the person again later the same day |
| À tout de suite | See you in a moment | You will see them again in a few minutes |
| À plus tard | See you later | Later, not a fixed time (informal: À plus !) |
| À bientôt | See you soon | Soon, not a fixed time |
| À la prochaine | Until next time | No date set; friendly |
| À demain | See you tomorrow | Tomorrow |
| Bonne journée / Bonne soirée | Have a good day / evening | Polite goodbye, e.g. leaving a store |
Thanks, apologies and congratulations
| Situation | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Thanking | Merci. Merci beaucoup. Merci mille fois ! | Thanks. Thank you very much. Thanks a million! |
| Answering thanks (everyday) | De rien. / Pas de quoi. | You're welcome. / No problem. (pas de quoi is more casual) |
| Answering thanks (polite) | Je vous en prie. / Je t'en prie. | You're welcome. (also: please, go ahead) |
| Answering thanks (Québec) | Bienvenue ! | You're welcome! (Canadian usage) |
| Getting attention, small apology | Excusez-moi. / Excuse-moi. / Pardon. | Excuse me. / Sorry. |
| Apologising | Je suis désolé. (said by a girl: désolée) | I'm sorry. |
| Accepting an apology | Ce n'est pas grave. / Pas de problème. | It's no big deal. / No problem. |
| Congratulating | Félicitations ! / Bravo ! | Congratulations! / Well done! |
| Wishing | Bonne chance ! Bon courage ! Bon appétit ! | Good luck! Hang in there! Enjoy your meal! |
| Birthdays | Bon anniversaire ! / Joyeux anniversaire ! (Canada: Bonne fête !) | Happy birthday! |
In context: three conversations, three registers
- Serveuse : Bonjour ! Qu'est-ce que je vous sers ?
- Client : Bonjour, madame. Je voudrais un chocolat chaud, s'il vous plaît.
- Serveuse : Petit ou grand ?
- Client : Un petit. Et pourriez-vous me donner un verre d'eau aussi ?
- Serveuse : Bien sûr. Voilà !
- Client : Merci beaucoup.
- Serveuse : Je vous en prie. Bonne journée !
- Zoé : Salut Noah ! Mon téléphone n'a plus de batterie. Tu peux me prêter ton chargeur, stp ?
- Noah : Pas de problème. Je suis à la bibliothèque.
- Zoé : Super, j'arrive tout de suite. Merci mille fois !
- Noah : De rien. À tout de suite !
Translation: Server: Hello! What can I get you? Customer: Hello, ma'am. I would like a hot chocolate, please. Server: Small or large? Customer: A small one. And could you give me a glass of water too? Server: Of course. Here you go! Customer: Thank you very much. Server: You're welcome. Have a good day! — Zoé: Hi Noah! My phone's battery is dead. Can you lend me your charger, please? Noah: No problem. I'm at the library. Zoé: Great, I'm coming right away. Thanks a million! Noah: You're welcome. See you in a minute! — Hello Ms. Tremblay, My name is Ana Silva and I am fifteen. I would like to work in your grocery store this summer. Could you tell me whether you are looking for employees? I am available on weekends. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, Ana Silva. Notice that Ana uses vous and votre all the way through, and Zoé uses tu and stp with a friend. Mixing the two in one message is a common slip.